First Birthday Cake

He eyes the candle, reaches out
To touch the flame it’s bringing,
But someone quickly blows it out;
Then everyone starts singing.

The brightly frosted cake is pushed
To where his little fingers
Cannot avoid some contact
And those gooey frosting bringers

Then find their way to cheeks and chin
And finally, to lips,
Resulting in repeated dipping
Of the fingertips.

The birthday face is nicely smeared
With neon green and blue.
His cute plaid shirt is also streaked
With cake and icing goo.

The grown-ups laugh; the cameras flash.
The moment justifies
The mess created by this birthday’s
Yummiest surprise.